Last night’s 10.7 overnight is up 15 percent compared to Game 1 of the 2006 NBA Finals (9.3 overnight rating), when these same two teams played. Additionally, last night’s overnight rating is up three percent compared to a 10.4 overnight rating for last year’s Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

In Miami, the top-rated metered market, the game delivered a 31.9 rating, an increase of 28 percent compared to a 24.9 rating locally for Game 1 in 2006. Dallas, ranked second among the metered markets, netted a 29.9 rating, the highest-rated game since the 2006 Finals.

It will be interesting to see if this momentum could serve as an impetus for increased negotiating between owners and players with the lockout looming.